Job 42:5-6
I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear; but now my eye sees You; therefore I retract, and I repent in dust and ashes.
The point of devastation… I don’t know that I have experienced this, but lately I seem to be having my share of trials. Most times in my life God has been gracious in His dealings with me; things always seem to work out. We have a little bit more in our bank account and the truck breaks down. The situation at work becomes unbearable and I find a dear friend to confide in and the day goes by quickly. God always seems to balance the good with the bad in my life and this seesaw has developed in me a faith that confidently knows that God is going to take care of me and make me comfortable. When He closes a door, He opens a window, right?
The problem with this faith is that I have grown to expect goodness from my God in the form of material provisions, financial sustenance, and personal happiness. I recently asked the Lord to teach me humility. Knowing this was a dangerous request, I clenched my teeth and have been holding on for the ride ever since. The God that I thought I knew doesn’t seem so familiar anymore. My husband and I feel like a ship battered by the storm; while we are still catching our breath from one trial, we are broad sided by yet another wave of difficulties. I have found myself in a miniature crisis of faith. How can I have faith in a God who isn’t answering my prayers the way He used to? How do I know He is there when He doesn’t take care of me the way He always has?
The lesson in Job is that we are all mere humans. In our eyes, Job had every right to complain. He had lost every blessing God had ever put in His life. How was he to understand this God who seemed to be so merciless? The answer is found in chapter 38. To Job’s questioning God responds, “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?” God asserts His Lordship over Job by reminding him of his place.
The application here is simple. If I hope to develop humility, I must first understand my position in light of my great God. Secondly, if I expect to develop any kind of faith, I must learn to trust that God is in control when I feel like He has hung me out to dry. Is it really faith if I know that my financial crisis will be met with an unexpected influx of money? I challenge that true faith is believing in the God that would leave you naked, abandoned, and alone as He did to Job. And true humility is to proclaim, “I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear; but now my eye sees You; therefore I retract, and I repent in dust and ashes.”
I dare you to take this course. Request that God teach you true humility and faith. Humility and faith that believe in the God who would take your future spouse through a torturous bout with cancer. Humility and faith that believe in the God who would lead you into a miserable situation and ask you to stay there and persevere. Humility and faith that believe in the God who might allow you to be barren despite the desperate longing of your heart to have children. Humility and faith that understand that the real blessing from God is eternity with Him and that the trials of this earth only bring us closer to an understanding of how great our Creator truly is.
This is a very daring thing you speak of but the end reward is much better than anything you could think of or imagine. I thank you for your honesty and courage to ask for and write about such faith and humility. This passage has quickened me to return to that place. It is very easy to float out of that place but hard to return to. Once you have been there you know the price you must pay and begin to wonder if it is worth it… IT IS.
Revelation 3:7b-8
7… These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. 8I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.
When God closes a door… He opens a door.
Faith is only as good as what we put our faith in…. Our God, our Wonderful Counselor, does not change and always fulfills His promises to us. If we waiver in our faith, is that not the same as doubting that He will fulfill? He will do what He said He will do. It DOES sometimes take trials to make us come to that conclusion. When we keep surrendering to Him, keep looking to Him, keep trusting Him… He honors our faith, and we honor Him.
Jesus Christ our Lord we thank you that you are the I Am, the Mighty God, Everlasting Father, King of kings. Our hope is in You and You alone do we place our faith and our trust. We thank you for dying on the cross for us, that we might know Your love. Thank you for ALL the trials we go through. I pray for every one of my brothers and sisters that they recognize them and count them ALL Joy.
Psalm 34:1 I will extol the LORD at all times;
his praise will always be on my lips.
I pray this to You Father God, in the Name of Jesus, by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Amen!
you are telling my story, only my prayer was for God to have His way in my life, and that i be worthy of meeting Him in the end. you gave me so much insight into what is going on right now. asking me to persevere in a difficult situation. to know Him and to be in His will is all that is important, as i learn TRUST in an almighty God